Afghanistan: At least five Afghans were wounded Sunday morning in a blast in eastern Kabul, though no group has yet claimed responsibility. (Xinhua)

Myanmar: State media confirmed that the military has launched an operation against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in three main areas in northernmost Kachin state early this month. (Xinhua)

Phillippines: Chief negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer, alarmed by growing number of kidnappings in the country, called on all parties including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to assist in releasing kidnap victims. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Region: EU energy commissioner Oettinger said there is no danger of Europe’s access to Russian gas falling victim to possible economic sanctions in the standoff over Ukraine. (AFP)

Italy: The Italian mafia is killing far fewer people than it used to, according to a UN report which revealed mafia murders in the country fell by 80 percent between 1992-2012. (Telegraph)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Israeli police arrested 16 Palestinians Sunday as they clashed with demonstrators at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. (AFP)

Iran: The government said it had completed watering down and converting more than 200 kilograms of enriched uranium under a deal reached in Geneva last November. (Reuters)

Syria: France has “information” but no firm proof that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime is still using chemical weapons. (AFP)

United Arab Emirates: Health authorities announced 12 new MERS coronavirus cases but insisted the patients would be cured within two weeks. (AFP)

Yemen: Five al-Qaeda militants were killed in a U.S. drone strike against a terrorist training center in the southern province of Abyan. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Researchers at the University of Virginia demonstrated tweets could predict certain kinds of crimes if the correct analysis is applied. (AFP)